Saturday, 29 June 2019

Sunscreen - Zoey Jurss - Charcoal Burners - The Prime - Ben Evolent

Sunscreen have just released their new single 'High Over Love'. The bands alt rock style is uncluttered, each instrument has it's space, with the vocals adding further melodic vibes on this pleasing song.

With influences such as First Aid Kit and Gillian Welch one things for certain, Zoey Jurss has very good musical taste, and what's more, her latest song 'Love, Love, Love' indicates she is pretty talented in her own right.

Charcoal Burners album 'The Best Day You Could Imagine' came out in April, however the New Zealand band have only just hit our radar, and their distinctive and hard to categorise rock is well worthy of a mention and a share.

The Prime have recently released their new E.P. 'Eternal Sky' and these accomplished rockers know their stuff, having originally formed in 2010, they got back together last year and the new material is top level natural rock!

We are back down under for Ben Evolent and his latest entitled 'Shiver' a folk rock song where is vocals are just right for the genre, as the musical backdrop adds in the rock dynamic.
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Sunscreen - High Over Love.

Beloved Sydney four-piece Sunscreen return with new single 'High Over Love', the first taste of forthcoming second EP via Spunk! Records. The band take their captivating live show on the road this July in support of the single, visiting Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

A compelling example of the band’s penchant for dynamic, hook-driven rock, 'High Over Love' sees Sunscreen reckon with a questionable romance through soaring guitar riffs and Sarah Sykes’ commanding, magnetic vocals. The first release from Sunscreen since their debut 2017 EP Just A Drop, the track explores how “Society's idealisation of being in love can often convince us we are in love when actually we are not - and when the reality is closer to unhealthy dependence, or simply a fear of being alone”, Sarah Sykes explains.

Born from a garage in Sydney’s inner west, Sunscreen began as a collaboration between friends one day when vocalist Sarah Sykes invited Alexander McDonald (guitar) and Hugo Levingston (drums) over for a jam in 2016. Receiving its worldwide premiere with Noisey, Sunscreen's debut EP Just A Drop attracted airplay on triple j and community radio stations across Australia, as well as airplay from college radio in the United States with breakout single ‘Voices’ airing nationally on ABC’s rage for six weeks straight upon release.

Since then, the band have garnered significant buzz, signing to booking agency New World Artists, earning support slots for DMAs, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Jen Cloher, Ali Barter and Jack Ladder, as well as taking stage at Farmer & the Owl and Grampians Music Festival. Drawing sonic comparisons to The Go-Betweens, Alvvays and the Cocteau Twins, Sunscreen’s unapologetic live performance and intoxicating sound has been praised for the way it yields power through emotional vulnerability. Embarking on East coast tour this July in support of ’High Over Love’, the band will take their incomparable live show to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne where fans will be treated to never before heard music.

Exuding a beautiful toughness, the band's forthcoming energetic five-track EP was produced by Simon ‘Berkfinger’ Berkelman (Philadelphia Grand Jury, Art Vs. Science) and reflects the psyche of a romantically confused young person trying to survive in the big city. Written over the course of years, the EP explores romantic idealisation, heartache and self-possession with frank, powerful vulnerability. “All five songs were written at different times when I was undergoing rapid change in my life and loosing sight of who I was” says Sarah Sykes. Including input from new bass player Oliver Ellis, the EP finds the band’s lush, indie-rock sound, informed by a new-found confidence and lucidity.

Building upon the immersive, hook-filled catalogue, 'High Over Love' finds Sunscreen forging their own path with their unique, ever-evolving sound that's more bold and honest than ever before.

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Zoey Jurss - Love, Love, Love.

Delicately crafted and wondrously spirited, Zoey Jurss’ debut single ‘Love Love Love’ introduces the upcoming Brisbane singer-songwriter’s exciting new country-folk blend brilliantly.

Driven by warm, sliding guitars and a bright, gentle drumline courtesy of Danny Widdicombe and the Honey Sliders (of Wilson Pickers fame), it’s Zoey’s soothing melodies which glide effortlessly throughout and elevate listeners to bliss.

A cheerful and tranquil backbone, Zoey’s themes contrast this wonderfully as she weaves in traces of love, loss and heartache. Exploring the vulnerability and internal conflict at the closing stages of a relationship, Zoey’s adept storytelling tows the line between the anguish and the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s not long until the comforting nature of ‘Love Love Love’ unravels to spread an infectious stream self-love and optimism.

The depth and passion found within Zoey’s debut translates across to her live performances in a different angle, stripping back her sound as opposed to the lively full entourage on record. Combining dual acoustic guitar with her effortless vocals at the forefront, Zoey's broad sound is influenced by the likes of First Aid Kit and Gillian Welch.

With her debut EP on the horizon, followed by a string of intimate performances, now is the time to drift into Zoey Jurss’ sparkling marvel.

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Charcoal Burners - The Best Day You Could Imagine (Album).

The Best Day You Could Imagine completes a trilogy of albums, all produced by Thomas Bell (David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights, The Shifting Sands) and recorded at the iconic Chicks recording studio in Port Chalmers, Dunedin.

If the electro dark-folk of Charcoal Burners (2017) was earth, and the glacial soundscapes of Orders From the House (2018) water, The Best Day You Could Imagine is fire.

Having teamed up with Shane Gilchrist for Charcoal Burners and then gone solo for Orders From the House, The Best Day You Could Imagine sees Spittle with a classic three piece line up, with Sally Lonie joining on bass and vocals and the enigmatic Finn making a furious racket in back.

Plenty of guitar bands still walk the Earth today, but none share the singular vision realized on The Best Day You Could Imagine. Think Husker Du playing The Overlook hotel.

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The Prime - Eternal Sky (E.P).

The Prime formed in 2010 with high school friends Drew Delneky on guitar and vocals and Max Shreffler on drums. Shortly thereafter, they added bass player Mike Koelling to the lineup. The band quickly gained attention in the Chicago music scene by performing at venues such as The Elbo Room, Martyrs’ and The Double Door and then expanded their range, playing shows in Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin.

The Prime released their first full-length, “In," in April of 2011. The album was produced and engineered by Joe Koelling at Great Plains Recording Company in Des Moines, Iowa and received positive reviews. In 2012, Max left the band to pursue other opportunities.

With the addition of new guitar player Matt Widowiarz and drummer Jay Lutterman, The Prime evolved into a heavier band in 2012 and decided to start playing shows under the name "Night of Fire" in 2013. Night on Fire released one official single, “Leave Me Alone,” before parting ways.

In 2018, Delneky and Koelling decided to reform The Prime and begin playing shows again. Taking a page from where the band started, Drew once again recruited friends from his high school days (this time Bobby Shields and Will Moeller). The band officially kicked off the re-launch in style with an epic performance at the House of Blues in Chicago in September of 2018 and celebrated the release of Eternal Sky at Reggie’s Rock Club in Chicago on June 14.

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Ben Evolent - Shiver.

One of Northern Territory’s most celebrated songwriters and live performers, Ben Evolent,  is about to release his debut album Wanderous. Shiver, the lead single taken from the album, is a song that persuasively rocks through self-reflection and the humbling presence of Nature’s potency.

‘Shiver was written in Timor Lest'e in 2017 after walking around the island of Atauro.  Shiver is about the moments in life where a choice of left or right can be made. It is you taking the plunge knowing that you are in the right place doing the right thing.’ - Ben Evolent

Shiver was written in tandem with Ben Evolent’s 2018 single Dagger and signals the steady embellishment of his broadly Australian style, born of the far north in all of its vibrancy and splendour, through tales of compassion for the people and the land. Shiver’s string arrangements sweep across gentle strums allowing Ben Evolent the space to capture hearts and imaginations.

In his two EPs and single to date, Ben Evolent has developed a dynamic range, from wistful folk to sweltering swamp-rock. His talent has garnered consistent nominations in the prestigious NT Song of the Year Award, winning in 2016 with his song Next Time. In 2017 he released the EP Next Time to a sold out crowd at Darwin Railway Club, the enthusiastic reception holding the no.10 spot in the AMRAP charts for 2 weeks, airplay on national broadcaster Triple J and over 100 000 plays on Spotify.

His lively and magnetic style has seen him support touring acts such as Kingswood, Bubsy Marou, Boo Seeka, Benny Walker, Caravana Sun and All Our Exes Live in Texas, and secured spots at Darwin Festival and in Tourism NT social media campaigns.

With this wealth of experience and breadth of expression firmly established, in 2019 Ben Evolent offers his debut album Wanderous. Building upon the robust nature of his catalog, Shiver is the shimmering affirmation that Ben Evolent is a storyteller on a wondrous journey.


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Friday, 28 June 2019

Ana Egge - Bronston - The Dead South - Box Of Moxie

Ana Egge has just released the video for 'Cocaine Cowboys', it's her second feature on Beehive Candy the last being in April 2018 when we remarked on her "melodic and gorgeous vocals". Well that remains the same and the inclusion of Iris DeMent on harmonies this time, really is something special!

Scottish alt-rock four piece Bronston have released 'Burnt Snakes' a potent bluesy rocker with perfectly matched vocals and a tight and feisty band adding plenty more.

The Dead South are already well know to many and rather popular to say the least, however 'Diamond Ring' is just such a fabulous song from the Canadian Bluegrass band, it just has to be included.

In February we first featured Box of Moxie with the track 'Submission Admission' and he is more than welcome back with the new song 'Bounty From The Seas' as the genre wanderer continues to release more fabulous material.
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Ana Egge - Cocaine Cowboys.

On September 6, 2019, Ana Egge will release her new album Is It The Kiss via StorySound Records. The Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter shared the music video for the lead single "Cocaine Cowboys," which features Iris DeMent on harmonies and Buck Meek (Big Thief) on electric guitar.

"Produced by Nancy Howell and Mark Lerner, the music video for 'Cocaine Cowboys' is fittingly cute. Featuring a winsome collection of props and highlighting a cast of famed artists like Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Charley Pride, and Hank Williams, it does well in accentuating the kind of affable romance that Egge is aiming for," states PopMatters. "Its gentle melodies, subtly awash with traditional country callbacks, make for an earwigging roots number."

"This one started out as a song in tribute to life on the road and the camaraderie and friendship of band mates and it quickly crossed into territory of honky tonk life on the road," says Egge about the track. "The impossibility of a hick from the country raised on a farm writing a song and becoming a wealthy star by singing his heart out and touring around the country in an old sedan. That’s one side of romance I’ve always been interested in. Music, the open road, adventure and friendship deep as the songs we dive into as a band and come out of together on the other end."

Is It the Kiss, Ana Egge’s eleventh album, has nine originals and one cover (Diana Jones), and features her singularly soulful singing and songwriting, which according to Steve Earle sounds “like she’s telling us her deepest, darkest secrets.”

The country side of things is well-represented on the album by pedal steel (Matt Davidson of Twain) and fiddle (Alex Hargreaves) and by the songs “Cocaine Cowboys” and her affecting duet with Iris DeMent on a cover of Diana Jones’ “Ballad of the Poor Child.” But this is something of a soul record. The tracks are grounded by the Brooklyn indie-all-star rhythm section of Jacob Silver and Robin MacMillan, the slow grooves are sweetened by horns like molasses (Cole Kamen-Green and Adam Dotson), and at the center of it all is Ana’s guitar, that sounds like it knows something about how Steve Cropper and Curtis Mayfield could delicately, but determinedly, provide a sweetly-beating funky heart. Plus there are alt-guitar flashes by Buck Meek (Big Thief) as well as wind and brass arrangements from multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer Alec Spiegelman (Cuddle Magic).


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Bronston - Burnt Snakes.

Bronston are proud to bring you their new single, 'Burnt Snakes', produced by Idlewild's Rod Jones.

Bronston are a Scottish alt-rock 4 piece, the members of which have deep musical roots within the Scottish music scene. From production and writing with Scottish up-and-comer Mt. Doubt to featuring on BBC Radio6 Music favourite Tom Joshua's latest single, the influence of Bronston's members can be heard heavily throughout music in the UK.

This latest single comes following the release of their last single 'Leaving Utopia' and presents another verse in a new chapter for Bronston as a band, in terms of both songwriting style and production.

Recording at Edinburgh's Post Electric Studio with Rod Jones, guitarist of Scottish indie-rock group Idlewild, Bronston have captured an aesthetic that conveys the raw energy of 4 talented musicians hammering it out together live, without compromising on an immense studio sound.

The narrative of Burnt Snakes offers two contrasting perspectives on the bizarre state of modern populist politics.The first part of the song is told from the perspective of a bemused citizen, someone who can hardly wrap their head around the utter nonsense that flows from the mouths of this new brand of politician.They listen to others as they attempt to somehow re-interpret or explain away the most jarring of these Politician's utterances, yet they cannot reconcile themselves to this twisted way of thinking. As the syncopated march of the rhythm section grooves through the first section of the song, the citizen feels increasingly out of step with this new cultural and political movement. Just before the perspective switches in the second section, the citizen finally gets to grips with the arrogance of these newly anointed thought-leaders.

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The Dead South - Diamond Ring.

Following on from their heavily praised 2016 sophomore album ‘Illusion & Doubt’, and their breakthrough hit ‘In Hell I’ll Be In Good Company’, which has so far smashed through the 100million views barrier on Youtube, Canadian bluegrass heroes The Dead South now return to showcase their highly anticipated third album ‘Sugar & Joy’ with their latest single ‘Diamond Ring’.

With their traditional arrangement of cello, mandolin, guitar and banjo, the four-piece look to continue their upbeat bluegrass heritage on this bright and vibrant return. With its distinct country influences, mixed with classic blues and soul throughout, ‘Diamond Ring’ is one of the band’s more uplifting and engaging cuts from their forthcoming release. Telling the story of William, a would-be groom robbed of his engagement offering; this new track channels the group’s compelling storytelling through the guise of foot-stomping chords and hip-shaking rhythm.

Produced by FAME-studio trained producer Jimmy Nutt, a long-time member of the Muscle Shoals music scene whose recent credits include a Grammy for his work on The Steeldrivers, ‘Sugar & Joy’ has been described as the band’s tightest, weirdest and most exciting studio album to date. Speaking about working alongside the band, Nutt added, “They have an obvious dedication to what they are doing. They really encourage each other, which you don’t see a lot.”

While the group have been making waves in North America these last few years, the UK has quickly adopted their uniquely uplifting direction as they are soon to become the first bluegrass band to ever headline Brixton Academy, and will also be stopping over at Glastonbury Festival later this month.

‘Diamond Ring’ is available to stream and download now, and their third LP ‘Sugar & Joy’ will arrive on the 11th October via Six Shooter Records. The band will also be taking to the road through the UK and Ireland later this month, as well as early next year in support of the new record. Check out the full list of UK and Ireland tour dates below.


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Box Of Moxie - Bounty From The Seas.

A combination of alt-rock, Americana, folksy rock, and avant-garde, Box of Moxie is a manifestation of material that Stephen Jacques gathered throughout his multifaceted professional life as engineer, custom builder, TV host, and actor.

Strumming his acoustic guitar along the way, Jacques' real life experiences reveal their truths in a delicate, dreamy, oftentimes humorous fashion.

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Wednesday, 26 June 2019

Liam Duncan - Janice Prix - Those Who Ride With Giants

Liam Duncan has released his new album 'If I Don't Feel Better' from which we have chosen 'Broken Hearted' to share. The theme for the album is based around a relationship ending, in this case Liam's personal experience, and what is impressive is the maturity regarding this, it's not a "poor me" outpouring of angst, rather an honest appraisal of a sensitive subject.

'Glitch' from Janice Prix might be based on a heavy and hardly uplifting subject, yet is a superb alt rocker, one that takes a challenging story line and turns it into something of an anthem, perhaps this is another definition for the term - juxtaposition. 

Those Who Ride With Giants (aka MJ Callaghan) has just released 'The Walk of Thunder' an atmospheric alt rock instrumental that genuinely sounds like a full band performing, so much so that a genuine live ensemble is being assembled to take this music on tour.
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Liam Duncan - Broken Hearted.

My name is Liam. I’m 22. I’m a songwriter, sideman, and mix/audio engineer. First and foremost: I’m releasing an album I worked on with my friends and with Howard Redekopp (Tegan & Sara, Mother Mother, New Pornographers, etc.).

I am very proud of this album and I hope you love it. In 2019, I’ll be touring this project heavily and making some more music. This album came out of a breakup. It’s an honest look at breaking up with someone, and how awful that can feel.

Song by song, I write about doubting a relationship that you’ve never doubted before, forcing yourself to deal with those doubts and learning to be honest with yourself and your partner.

For many years, I toured with a band called The Middle Coast. We started touring when I was 17, and toured 100-200 days a year until I was 22. With my two best friends, I toured Canada coast to coast, toured the U.S. a bit, and toured Japan. It was awesome.

I do a lot of work as a keyboard player – touring and playing with Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, Begonia, Roger Roger, Jadea Kelly, Sweet Alibi, Don Amero, Sol James, Roman Clarke, Madelaine Roger, Lucas Roger, and others.

I do a fair bit of work engineering and mixing other people’s music. I’ve engineered, produced, or mixed for: The Middle Coast, Super Duty Tough Work, Don Amero, Sebastian Owl, Ali Atwell, Housepanther, Wrecker, Roman Clarke, Dylan MacDonald, and done tons of editing for a bunch of people. It’s fun. Mostly.


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Janice Prix - Glitch.

Janice Prix formed in the small industrial town of Trollhättan, Sweden. Despite their passion early on, the local music scene didn’t exactly embrace their creative difference with open arms: one day, the band arrived at the studio to find fake obituaries of each member’s name nailed to the front door. But from performing at Berlin Music Week and being active in the Swedish Club scene, Janice Prix have successfully established a place for their unique indie-pop within a town traditionally dominated by metal and punk.

With dark choruses and pop sensibility, previous politically charged single ‘Waking’ is far from what their native town is used to hearing. The anthemic chorus and emotive lyrics make the political statement of the track even more profound. Inspired by the tumultuous narrative of refugees fleeing their war-torn homes, ‘Waking’ is a powerful testament to compassion and political awareness.

Janice Prix expand their sound further on new track ‘Glitch’ – an impassioned elegy for victims of violence from the perspective of a brutal murderer. A haunting piano opens before a reverb-drenched electronic beat kicks in. This ominous start is soon accentuated by an unnerving vocal and distorted guitar samples that drift in and out. With a Wembley-worthy chorus, ‘Glitch’ reaches stratospheric musical heights with lyrical content to match.

Elaborating on their new release, they said "It’s a song inspired by the tragic events taking place in our hometown of Trollhättan in 2015, where a man wearing a Darth Vader-esque mask killed students and teachers with a sword in racist attack. The lyrics revolve around the thought process within the mind of an assailant right after an attack. We wanted the melodies and gloomy soundscape to emphasize the concept of eternity and life sentence."

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Those Who Ride With Giants - The Walk of Thunder.

Those Who Ride With Giants brand new single is entitled ’The Walk of Thunder’.

The “band” is really just one man – Sydney, Australia’s illustrator/animator/instrumental art rocker MJ Callaghan.

The multi-layered instrumentation and spacious atmospherics make these performances feel like a full band playing off each other in the same room at the same time.

As a result of the phenomenal support that the two previous releases generated, from tastemakers as influential as Spotify and Apple Music, and increasing popularity on a global scale, a live band has now formed and Those Who Ride With Giants are in the process of booking their first run of dates in support of the upcoming release.


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Tuesday, 25 June 2019

The Black Watch - The Riptide Movement

The Black Watch have just released 'Mad' ahead of John Andrew Fredrick releasing his 17th full-length album 'Magic Johnson' as lead song-smith of the black watch. With a quick tempo and slick rock delivery, it's notable just how the fresh the piece feels, considering how much music has preceded the song. 

Dublin's The Riptide Movement have just announced a London show at The Islington on Friday 4th October hot on the heels of their recent new song release 'I'll Be There'. The song is a vibrant indie rocker that's rather catchy to put it mildly.
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The Black Watch - Magic Johnson.

An avowed Anglophile, author, English professor and irrepressible Los Angeles based songwriter John Andrew Fredrick is about to release his 17th full-length as lead songsmith of the black watch. 'Magic Johnson' is released in the UK through Atom records on the 8th of August 2019.

It reunites Fredrick with Scott Campbell (Acetone, Carina Round, Stevie Nicks), Andy Creighton (The World Record), and Rob Campanella (The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Tyde) released by Atom Records in the UK in August. Fredrick’s songs are infused with bittersweet sunlit vibes distinctive of what he calls a 'quintessentially LA record', yet its influenced by his love of 80s English post-punk, Flying Nun records, C-86 and the psychedelic works of The Beatles.

It's preceded by the lead single 'Mad' in June that's wry, infectious songwriting is a jangly, joyous celebration of a lover’s craziness, that's sideways romp stokes the distant embers of acts as disparate as The Wedding Present, The Go-Betweens and The Cure, yet remains distinctively the black watch a band due the attention they genuinely deserve in the country that inspired much of their sound.

In 2019, the black watch issues Magic Johnson, its 17th long player, the songs (and the subjects they cover) on the new TBW LP certainly are singularly varied, if not truly weird, eerie, strange: a dream reimagined from a Thomas Hardy novel (“Eustacia’s Dream”); a breathtaking story of male violence and desire from Elizabeth I’s reign (“April Fools”); a childlike exhortation applied to adult disappointments (“Upsy-Daisy”). Anti-love songs, lovey love songs, carpe diem lullabies, a pulsating rocker mocking LA posers and trendies and “Coachella hat chicks” who are “always lonely, though never alone.”

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The Riptide Movement - I'll Be There.

Dublin four-piece The Riptide Movement are set to release their eagerly anticipated new single “I’ll Be There”

This song is an uplifting, energizing, guitar driven anthem with a massive chorus and is without doubt a return to form for the band. Co-produced in Attica Studios with the legendary Tommy McLoughlin (Villagers, SOAK) “I’ll Be There” could possibly be their best offering to date.

Complimenting this uplifting track is a 2D live action animated music video that was produced and directed by BAFTA award winning Jam Media.

With four studio albums to their name - most notably The RTÉ Choice Music Prize nominated, Gold selling, Number 1 Album “Getting Through” - The Riptide Movement are renowned for their phenomenal live shows and soaring, guitar driven, energetic tracks. Having toured extensively throughout 2018 on the back of critically acclaimed releases “All Works Out", “Elephant in the Room” and “Changeling”, a busy summer of festival appearances awaits.

“I’ll Be There” the brand new single from The Riptide Movement, is available on all streaming platforms and digital formats now.


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Speedial - Echo Valley - Lucette - Gelli Haha

Photo - Samuel George Franklin Speedial - Tourist. London four-piece Speedial blend melodic post-rock, shoegaze, math rock, jazz fusion and...